Wombat was forever teasing Koala about being a tree-dweller.  Koala would half-heartedly tease back about Wombat's inability to climb trees, but he would rather not have bothered.  What did it matter?  They were different, that was all.  But Wombat thought it was a great joke, so Koala tried to keep him happy by playing along.  This continued for several years, on and off.  Sometimes, Koala would think Wombat had finally grown out of the game, but every now and then Wombat would start up the taunts again.  Koala would sigh, look up sleepily from his gumleaf lunch, and 'taunt' back at him.

One year, Wombat decided it was time that he proved himself.  He wanted to show Koala that he was a big, strong grown-up wombat.  Koala was two years older than Wombat and this had always rankled with him.  Every time Koala accidentally reminded him that he was older, Wombat took it as an insult.  Koala would say, "Don't be silly Wombat!" but this would only make it worse.

On his birthday, Wombat challenged Koala to a race to prove that he was the best runner.   All the other animals in the district heard about it and came to have a look.   They had been watching the rivalry between Wombat and Koala with amusement, and were waiting for Koala to get tired of it and really tell Wombat off.  The new turn of events was a surprise and all the animals wanted to see what would happen next.

Koala wasn't surprised at all.   He had been expecting Wombat to push the joke too far one day, and this was it.   He flatly refused to participate.

Wombat was furious! 

"You can't do that, Koala... you have to race me... it's my birthday!"

"I know it's your birthday Wombat, but it doesn't matter. It is still a silly idea.  I live in the trees and you live on the ground... we're different... I am not racing you."

Wombat went into a real sulk.  He refused to join in when Koala suggested the animals sing 'Happy Birthday', and he spent the rest of the day avoiding him.  Koala felt pretty miserable.  He hated disappointing his friend, no matter how silly he was being and eventually changed his mind.  He would race Wombat, Wombat would win, and then maybe there would be an end to all the rivalry once Wombat had proven his point.

Meanwhile Wombat was making plans of his own.  He was going to show that Koala!  He would have a party and not even invite him...

 Chapter 2